Notable former pupils

The late John Anderson, former Second Master, received the MBE for services to the CCF. Former history master and former Labour councillor for Pelsall, the late Tom Perrett, was awarded the MBE in January 2007. John A Dickson was a Classics master and athletics enthusiast, devoted to Farchynys. He was appointed OBE in 1987 for his work for the Cadet Force. Dave Pomeroy, a former mathematics teacher, received an OBE from the Queen. Late PE teacher George ('Sam') Crudace was awarded the British Empire Medal.

The school has produced a number of pupils who went on to be councillors for the Borough including: John Murray, Michael Flower, Bill Withnall and Imran Azam.

Notable former pupils include:

  • Walter Balmford MBE, for Services to Training and Education. Walter was Master Lightmonger in 1987 and has ever since served on the Court as a Past Master, he has now been granted the title of Past Master Emeritus.

  • Dennis Bayley, Life member of the Association of Profession of Chemistry in Ontario; Fellow of Institute of Material, Mining and Manufacturing

  • Peter Bromage, Chair of the Test and County Cricket Board disciplinary committee and Chairman of the executive committee st the R.F.U.

  • David Brown, County and International cricketer

  • Colin Charvis, Rugby Union player - British and Irish Lions and Captain of Wales

  • Sir Terence Beckett KBE, chairman of Ford and director-general of the Confederation of British Industry

  • Vernon Coleman, Conspiracy theorist, author and AIDS denialist

  • Anthony Culverwell, Three Times World DJ Champion, and first DJ to perform at the BBC Proms

  • David Ennals, Baron Ennals, Labour MP from 1974-83 for Norwich North, and from 1964-70 for Dover

  • Prof. Martin Ennals, Ariel F. Sallows Professor of Human Rights in 1991 at the University of Saskatchewan, Secretary-General from 1968-80 of Amnesty International, and younger brother of David

  • David Etherington QC, Chancellor of the Diocese of London

  • Michael Fitzgerald, Roman Catholic Cardinal archbishop, former Papal Nuncio to Egypt

  • Martin Fowler, software developer and author

  • Prof. F. J. C. Hearnshaw, Professor of Mediaeval History from 1912–34 at King's College London

  • Sir Gary Hickinbottom, High Court judge and Lead of the Public Enquiry in the British Virgin Islands 2021

  • Prof Sir Harry Hinsley OBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1981–3, Master of St John's College, Cambridge from 1979–89, Professor of History of International Relations from 1969–83, and worked at Bletchley Park

  • Jeffrey Holland, (Jeffrey Parkes) actor

  • Phillip Holmes MBE, for services to the Community of the West Midlands

  • David Howarth, Law lecturer, Clare College, Cambridge, Lib Dem MP from 2005-10 for Cambridge; Professor of Law and Public Policy, University of Cambridge

  • Mark Joyce, professional snooker player

  • Rupert Moon, Rugby Union international for Wales

  • Sir Henry Newbolt, imperialist poet ("Stand up, stand up and play the game"); author of the Newbolt Report on the teaching of English in schools (1921)

  • Baron Harmar-Nicholls, known as Sir Harmar Nicholls, 1st Baronet, from 1960 to 1975, was a British Conservative Party politician

  • Andrew Peach BBC Radio broadcaster, breakfast show presenter of Radio Berkshire

  • Sir Leonard Peach, Cheif Executive of the National Health Service

  • David Pearce, Winner of the Bank of England £1 Coin Design Competition 2014

  • Prof. Lloyd Peck, Science Leader British Antarctic Survey

  • Terry Pitt, Labour MEP from 1984-6 for Midlands West, Head of the Labour Party Research Department from 1965–74

  • Commander Matthew Punch MBE RN

  • Sir Edwin Thomas Smith, Australian politician

  • John Somers, 1st Baron Somers, Lord Chancellor of England, 1697–1700, member of the committee which drafted the Bill of Rights

  • Bryan Stanley, trade union leader and member of Labour's National Executive Committee

  • Philip Sturrock MBE, for services to Business, Charity and to the community in South East London

  • His Honour Judge Swinnerton, appointed on 30th March 2020 and deployed to the Northern Circuit, based at Liverpool Crown Court with effect from 20 April 2020.

  • Faeeza Vaid MBE, Director of the Muslim Women’s Network

  • Maurice Wiggin (1912–1986), journalist and author

  • Frank Windsor, (Frank W Higgins) actor – Z-Cars, Softly Softly, etc.